Tag Archives: inspiration

By: Gloria Marie

When we feel anxious, it is because we are not living in the present moment. Stress or anxiety is fear based. We worry about what “may” happen in the future or we have regrets about the past. We cannot change the past, learn from it and move on. We can prepare for future, but, we cannot control everything that will happen in our future. There is no power in worrying.

This video introduces five ways to release anxiety.

1. Gratitude is the best attitude. Next time you are feeling anxious, write down ten things that you are grateful for. This will help redirect your thoughts.

2. Deep Breathing – Practice abdominal breathing. Inhale to the count of five. Pause to the count of three. Exhale to the count of five. Do three times.

3. Affirmations. Words are powerful. A favorite quote of mine from James Allen, “All that we achieve and all that we fail to achieve is the direct result of our thoughts.” Try this powerful affirmation. I AM puts you in the powerful vortex of energy with Divine Intelligence.I AM Invincible Protection.

4. Heart Massage – Learn this stress releasing tool. Our heart area is a place we carry our stress and anxiety. Massage it, just like you would any part of your body that is hurting.

5. Find your happy place and visualize that you are there. Maybe is it a favorite spot in nature, a vacation, or just spending time with your children.

Try to find one or two of these that work for you. Begin using one of these tools, so, the tool becomes a habit.

By: Gloria Marie

Have you clearly defined your dreams? If not, then your dreams are just wishes. Imagine going past a jewelry store, and you see a necklace that you love and want. That is a wish not a dream or desire. Maybe you want a romantic relationship, now that is a desire. There are three steps to manifest your dreams. I call them three rules.

First and foremost, you must clearly define your desires. Be as specific as possible. If you want a new car, what make and model do you want? How about the color? Picture yourself behind the wheel going g for a long drive in your new car. Now, write that desire down on a sheet of paper.

Next, add to the list by the same clearly defined way. Do you want a new home? Where is it located? What kind of furnishings are in your new home? Who is there with you?

Continue adding to your list and feel free to amend or change it around.

Rule number two: Read your list out loud at least two times per day, preferably in the morning and right before you go to sleep. Reading them out loud helps drive your dreams into your subconscious mind. Your subconscious mind never sleeps. Your subconscious mind is aligned with God and Infinite Possibilities. It is the magic power that you have at your disposable if you choose to use it and believe in it.

Rule number three: Do not discuss your list with anyone. This prevents negative energy to influence you. Your desires are between you and God. Naysayers may try to sway your beliefs, and you want to keep your power and your focus on your desires.

These three rules work! Try testing in on small, very attainable desires first to prove it to yourself. Be grateful for all the incredible changes that you can bring into your life.

By: Gloria Marie

There is so much written to “stay fully present.” That is a simple concept but usually difficult to adhere to day in and day out. However, there is only now. We can choose to worry about the future and those worries may never come to fruition. We can carry the past with us and part of that past might be bitterness, forgiveness, and hurt. Spring is a time of renewal and a fantastic time to shed and cut the emotional baggage from your past.

If we look at nature; birds and animals shed their fur and feathers in the spring. They are casting off the old and receiving the new. Native Americans called March the “weak month” because of the inactivity in animal and man, which always prevails when this power is recuperating, and renewing. It is perfect time of year for us to release what we would like to shed from the past. By releasing the past, we can live more fully in the present. We can be unburdened.

Carrying past unfinished business is a drain on our emotional and physical being. It can be likened to carrying credit card debt. The ever-increasing interest rate goes on and on. Why continue to carry that weight forward? Be free of past hurts and then you can renew the possibilities of your life in the present. Your energy is free and you are healed.

What debt are you carrying? Whom do you need to forgive? It could be yourself that you need to forgive. Let’s cut that debt and feel free. Peace and freedom are the doorway to happiness. Practice the Law of Forgiveness and give up the need to punish the people who hurt you. Unless you are willing to forgive, how can you be forgiven?

Pray for guidance and help. Say silently to the person that you need to release or forgive,

“I send to you the fullness of the Divine Love of my Being to bless and prosper you.”

By: Gloria Marie

When we are ill and go to the Doctor, we most likely follow their orders. Perhaps we need more testing or there is a medicine that we need to take. If the Doctor suggests more exercise, we might consider to begin an exercise program. Likewise, when we are hurt emotionally, we take the necessary steps to heal. It might be talking to a therapist or being gentle with ourselves. However, these are just one aspect of healing. We tend to forget about soul healing.

True healing cannot take place without healing our soul. All healing begins internally and then the external can change. We need to get in touch with our Inner Self and God for true healing to begin. Soul healing is everlasting. It is what brings us joy that never ends.

Consider how much time we all spend daily on social media, emails, surfing the web and looking at our phones. Would not some of that time be better spent on healing our souls? Just ten minutes a day in meditation, can connect you with your Inner Self, put you closer to God and bring you peace.

Paramahansa Yogananda was a great spiritual teacher and healer. Many people would come to him for healing and over time he became frustrated because people were only interested in physical healing. Once they were cured, he would never see them again. He wanted them to do soul healing because we all have the power to heal ourselves. Paramahansa Yogananda was not the healer, God was the healer working through him. It was his strong, unwavering faith in God that did the miraculous healing.

We can begin today to heal our souls. Meditation is one way to begin. Self-healing also includes treating everyone with love and respect, proper diet and exercise. Self-healing puts our faith in God and his power. Think only positive thoughts and practice mindfulness. Then, you too can heal your soul and have everlasting joy!

By: Gloria Marie

How did you wake up feeling this morning? Were your first thoughts, “Oh no another day?” The first part of our morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. Our thoughts manifest into our lives. If you started the day with dread, guess what, your day probably would be filled with problems. Instead of dread, make gratitude your attitude in the morning and throughout the day.

On first awakening try saying or thinking, “God thank you for this wondrous day before me.” Gratitude opens us up to our true self and allows grace to enter our lives. When we are connected to our true self in gratitude, success and abundance flows into our lives.

Whatever we put out in the world comes back to us. Being grateful for what you have today, in this present moment, will bring more blessings into your life. All we truly have is this precious, present moment. The past is gone and we do not know what tomorrow will bring.

Even if your life is not quite what you want, there are still things to be grateful for. Look out the window and look at the magnificent world we live in. If you had water to drink and food to eat today, that is a gift.

Besides being grateful on first awakening, there are other ways to make gratitude your attitude.

1. At night, write down three blessing you received. Try not to write the obvious ones. Was there someone who touched your heart? Did something unexpected happen? Did you notice something in nature that was magnificent? I have a small forest behind my house and I am grateful every day to watch the birds. Nature can provide us with simple pleasures. When you write them down, expand a little on your feelings. 2. Write a gratitude letter to someone in your past that had an influence on your life and that you never thanked. It could be a former teacher, a relative, a couch, or maybe a friend. It is up to you whether to send the letter. It is more important to put your feelings on paper

This week make gratitude your attitude. Complain less and see what a difference it makes. Allow grace to flow into your life.

By: Gloria Marie

What was the first thing you did when you woke up this morning? Maybe said a prayer for having another day on this magnificent earth? Did you feel joyful and excited about your day? Finding joy and living a joy-filled life allows you to shine. Joy is a true internal feeling that is not affected by life’s up and downs. It differs from happiness which is more external. You won the lottery, you feel happiness. This is not to say that you will always be joyful, but, by cultivating joy, you will be joyful more frequently. Here are my six ways to remain joyful.

I practice these steps, not every day, but, most days. If I am going through a more challenging period in my life, I make it a habit to integrate these actions in my life. Let your soul shine through with joy, it will help everyone around you feel better.

6 Ways to Stay Joyful 1. Be grateful. A practice that includes gratitude allows you to dwell on the positive aspects in your life. No matter how difficult a period you are going through, there is always something to be grateful for. Do you say a silent prayer before a meal? Or maybe start a Gratitude journal. 2. Do something creative. Learn something new. When you are doing a creative project, you unblock energy and that energy can now flow in better ways. When you are doing the creative project; pay attention to the process. Immerse yourself in it. 3. Find your passion. Pursue something that you care deeply about. Even taking small steps toward your passion will bring you joy. What does your ideal day look like? 4. Be of service to others. Take the focus off your ego-centered self and bring happiness to another person. Think of the countless ways you can be of service. 5. Exercise. The Mayo Clinic says, “Exercise in almost any form can act as a stress reliever. Being active can boost your feel good endorphins and distract you from daily worries”. You do not have to train for a marathon. Just do some exercise that you enjoy. 6. Listen to your intuition. In silence, you deep gut feelings are very reliable. Learn to be aware of them.

By: Gloria Marie

I have my morning ritual, it is a time that I cherish. I believe this time helps me stay centered and calm throughout the day. Most mornings, I get up early, while it is still dark and the world is quiet. I make myself a cup of coffee and retreat to my “meditation chair”. It is an oversized, comfortable chair with a large basket of inspirational books next to it. This hour that I spend every morning, is a gift to myself. Most days there are no startling insights: just time to pray, go deep into my soul, and be in God’s presence. This week try to give yourself a gift of silence each morning. My morning ritual consists of meditation, journaling, inspirational reading and sitting in silence. I begin reading while enjoying my coffee. By my chair, I have several books to choose from. Next I meditate for about 20 minutes. This is followed by journaling and praying. Some days, I do not have the luxury of an hour and that is alright. This morning ritual has helped me transform my life from fear to peace and love. Create Your Own Morning Ritual 1. Pick out a spot in your home that you can remain undisturbed. It is preferable to have a chair to sit on. If you do not have an hour to spend, try half an hour. 2. Inspirational Reading – Pick out several books to keep by your side. I like to have a variety depending on what my mood is. Currently I am reading, “New Seeds of Contemplation” by Thomas Merton. I also have a book of daily inspirational messages that I read right before my meditation. My old standby is “Around the Year with Emmet Fox”. I also enjoy, “The Book of Awakening” by Mark Nepo. I usually read for about 20 minutes while sipping my coffee. 3. Meditation – If you do not have a meditation practice, a breathing meditation may be the way to start. Sit silently and concentrate on your breath going in and out of your body. When thoughts come, just let them go. Do not engage the thoughts. Just breathe. I set a timer for 20 minutes. 4. Journaling – Buy a special journal that you will use just for this purpose. After meditation, I open my journal and begin to write. I let the pen just flow. Some mornings, I may write a letter to God. 5. Silence and Reflection – Before leave my chair, I spend a few minutes in quiet reflection and praying. These are just my suggestions, be flexible and create your own morning ritual. What are your favorite books for inspiration?

By: Gloria Marie

Do you ever feel that some weeks go by so quickly and you look back on Saturday and say, “Wow, I did not accomplish anything this week.” That happens to all of us, but, with a little planning, you can stay on track. These are my 3 steps for time management.

Set a couple long term goals for yourself. Then decide on a few goals that you would like to accomplish in the next week.

When your action plan is together, complete the following sentences.

I will avoid………

I will complete……………..

To make sure I complete my task, I will……………………….

I will not……………………….

Now do the following 3 steps:

1. Spend 10 minutes at the beginning of the week in a “strategy session”. Pick 2 tasks this week that will get you closer to your long-term goals. Write down what else you would like to accomplish this week. 2. Schedule. Buy a planner or find a weekly planner on-line. Map out each day with realistic timeframes and tasks. Try not to over schedule. You will need some flexible time during the week. Remember to also schedule some fun and recreational activities. Put a star next to the items that absolutely must be accomplished this week because of some sort of deadline. 3. After you have planned your week, focus only on the day at hand. If you were not able to complete all your goals for the current day, evaluate whether you could schedule it later in the week or whether it is best left for another week. Remain flexible and do not be hard on yourself if you cannot accomplish everything. With practice, you will learn how to best use your time.

Refer back to the sentences you completed above when planning the following week.

Be aware of the time you spend looking at emails. Does that detract from completing your tasks? Maybe limit checking emails to three days a day: morning, afternoon and evening.

By: Gloria Marie

The following is a chapter from my book, “Divorce the Divorce: a 52 Step Journey to Creating Unlimited Happiness”. This chapter gives 4 ways to deal with a broken heart.

Chapter 12

Ways to Deal with a Broken Heart

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dating is part of a single women’s life. Having a broken heart at some point may become a reality. It hurts, it’s uncomfortable, and many emotions will wash over you. I like to think of every relationship like a brick in the foundation of the new me I am creating. If one relationship doesn’t work out, maybe it prepared me in some way for the next one. After all, we are a work in progress, brick by brick, experience by experience.

A broken heart is not fun. But loss is a part of life. Congratulate yourself that you had the courage to love again. That is progress. You will get through this new loss, grow stronger and find love again.

When a relationship does not work out, I like to ask myself, “What was the lesson this situation has brought to me?” “How can I grow from this experience?” These are very powerful questions to ask yourself. Spend some quiet time centered in the moment and think about this. The present moment is always the best teacher. I try not to ignore my feeling of loss, despair, and helplessness, and I know in time I will heal once again. Until then, I treat myself with compassion and love.

Activity 1. Try to avoid negative thoughts about yourself or your ex-boyfriend. Negative thinking does no good. Remember the law of attraction. Try to stay positive to attract more positivity into your life. Use affirmations to remain positive. Some to try: I am healing. I have faith that the Universe will fill my life with love and joy. I am creating happiness in my life. 2. That beautiful shirt he bought you, either toss it out or box it up and get it out of your sight. This goes for anything that brings back strong memories about the relationship. If you cannot bear to throw something away, box it up, give it to someone or sell it. Physical items contain energy, and you want new, fresh energy in your life. Exercise. Exercise is a great way to release stress. Get moving. Walk, go to the gym or play tennis: the important point is to begin moving. It might be easy and comfortable to stay on the couch in front of the television. Do the uncomfortable, get some fresh air. 3. Take out your journal and write a letter to your ex. Go deep and write about what you are feeling. Begin the letter with, “I forgive ___________ for______________ because__________.” Then, write a letter from your ex to you in response to your letter. Begin that letter with the same sentence. Keep writing until you have nothing else left to say. 4. Get a large piece of paper and your markers. Draw a picture of your ideal day. What would you be doing throughout it? What kind of relationship would you want in your ideal life? Write some description adjectives next your your pictures. What color is dominate? Have fun and dream BIG! When you complete your drawing, place it where you can see it every day.

By: Gloria Marie

We can learn from the wisdom of others. I love quotes from all sorts of people: mystics, celebrities, a wise children. Sometimes a quote is just the pick me up or encouragement we need at a given moment. This list below contains some of my favorites. You might consider printing it for the days when you need a lift.

1. If you dream it, you can do it. –Walt Disney 2. We become what we think about. – Earl Nightingale 3. Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. – Robert Frost 4. The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be. –Ralph Waldo Emerson 5. Certain things catch you eye, but pursue only those that capture the heart. – Ancient Indian Proverb 6. When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. – Lao Tzu 7. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. – Dalai Lama 8. Remember no one can make you feel inferior without your consent. – Eleanor Roosevelt 9. Change your thoughts and you change your world. – Norman Vincent Peale 10. A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new. – Albert Einstein 11. All that you achieve an all that you fail to achieve is the direct result of your own thoughts. – James Allen 12. The soul cannot smile if the eyes did not cry. – Native American 13. There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge. – Napoleon Hill 14. Whoever is happy will make others happy too. He who has courage and faith will never perish in misery. – Anne Frank 15. Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your own actions. – Dalai Lama 16. The perfect love is the love within you. – Marianne Williamson 17. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. – Henry David Thoreau 18. Follow not others in your life. Follow your heart and each day will be yours, not somebody else’s. – Ron Rathbun 19. Fall seven times and stand up eight. – Japanese Proverb 20. You can’t us up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. – Maya Angelou

Post navigation

Gloria Marie

Gloria is a transformation life coach, spiritual teacher, and author. She received her Master in Education from the University of Florida and her life coaching certification from the Universal Coach Institute. Her articles have appeared in Huffington Post and divorcedmoms.com. Gloria brings over 35 years of entrepreneurial experience to her work. She is the proud mother of two grown sons.